Ames described the mountain habitat as Mount Mariquidon; I can not find any reference or mention of this mountain outside of Ames description.

The Plants Description

The pseudobulbs cluster on a short rhizome. The pseudobulbs are shaped obpyriform to ellipsoid. The pseudobulbs measure 1.2-1.5cm long and 0.4-0.6cm in diameter. The pseudobulbs are covered by c3 cataphylls while they are growing. The cataphylls soon disintegrate into persistent fibres as the pseudobulbs mature. The leaves are petiolate; the petiole measures 1.4-2.4cm long. The leaf blades are convolute, shaped lanceolate and have obtuse apices. The leaf blades measure 5.0-8.7cm long and 1.4-1.6cm wide. The leaves are thin textured and have 3 distinct nerves.

The Inflorescence

The inflorescence is synanthous. The peduncle is suberect and measures 8.0-10.0cm long. The rachis is probably pendent and measures 6.0-7.5cm long. The flowers alternate distichously and are spaced 1.5-2.0mm apart; the rachis twists to form a cylindrical spiral. There is one appressed non-floriferous bract at the base of the rachis. The flowers open from the proximal section of the rachis.

The Flowers

Henrik Pedersen wrote that the flower colour is yellowish to salmon coloured (Pedersen 1997). The sepals and petals spread widely. The dorsal sepal is shaped lanceolate-oblong and has an obtuse to acute apex. The dorsal sepal measures 3.3-3.7mm long and 1.3-1.4mm wide. The dorsal sepal is three veined and has entire margins. The lateral sepals are shaped broadly lanceolate and have acute apices. The lateral sepals measure 3.5-3.7mm long and 1.2-1.4mm wide. The lateral sepals are three veined and have entire margins. The petals are shaped broadly oblanceolate and have obtuse to acute apices. The petals measure 3.5-3.7mm long and 1.2-1.4mm wide. The petals are three veined and have entire margins. The labellum is more or less porrect and entire. The labellum is shaped elliptic with a rounded, slightly hooded apex. The labellum measures 3.1-3.3mm long and 1.3-1.6mm wide. The labellum is three veined and has entire margins. The labellum has no ornaments. The column is suberect, straight and somewhat wing-like. The column measures c1.8mm long. The apical hood is prolonged into a truncate, finely dentate apex and exceeds the anther cap. The stelidia grow up and outwards from the top of the column and appear as two sub apical rounded lobes.

Flowering plants have been collected in the wild from November to December.

Culture

I do not think this species is in cultivation

Similar Species

Dendrochilum propinquum

Dendrochilum convallariaeforme

Other Information

Ames wrote that this species is closely related to Dendrochilum propinquum but differs because all of the parts of the plant are smaller. Ames also wrote that this species differs from Dendrochilum bicallosum (D. convallariaeforme) because of its marginate leaves and ecallose labellum (Ames 1920).

Henrik Pedersen grouped this species is with Dendrochilum convallariaeforme and Dendrochilum propinquum and wrote that it differs from the D. graciliscapum group by not having the transverse callus at the base of the labellum (Pedersen 1997).

Reference –

AMES, Oakes. 1920, Illustrations and studies of the Family Orchidaceae Facsimile 6 The Orchids of Mount Kinabalu British North Borneo, Ames Botanical Laboratory, North Easton, Massachusetts, Boston.